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    Home » Air Fryer Pork

    Air Fryer Pork Roast

    Posted: Dec 20, 2020 · Updated: Dec 20, 2020 by Tonje

    691 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Make juicy pork roast with crispy cracking with minimal effort using my favorite air fryer pork roast recipe. Perfect for stress free roast dinners!

    Air fryer pork roast with cracking.
    Perfect tender pork roast with amazing crispy crackling!
    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Pork Joints
    • Instructions
    • Helpful equipment
    • Roasting times
    • Crackling troubleshooting
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Leftovers
    • Frequently asked questions
    • You might also like these recipes
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Why this recipe works

    • Cooking your meat in the air fryer frees up your oven for more delicious side dishes.
    • This provides the perfect juicy pork roast, regardless of which joint you use.
    • If your joint has a rind on it, the air fryer makes the easiest and crispiest crackling!
    • Works well for small or large joints.
    • All you need is your pork joint and air fryer - it couldn't be easier!

    Pork Joints

    You can use any cut of pork, or any pork joint for this recipe. I like to use a tender cut of pork, such as a pork loin joint, as they are better suited for fast cooking, compared to tougher cuts such as pork shoulder or pork butt.

    You might also want to check out my air fryer pork belly and air fryer pork tenderloin recipes to learn how to cook the specific cuts of pork.

    The recipe includes instructions on how to make crackling. Keep in mind that crackling is crispy pork skin, and you can only make cracking if your pork joint has the skin (also known as rind) still attached.

    A salted pork joint.
    Score the rind and salt it thoroughly for perfect crispy pork crackling.

    If you buy a pork joint without skin, you can still follow the recipe instructions to make a delicious pork roast without crackling.

    💡 TIP! When you choose your pork joint, make sure that it can actually fit in your air fryer. Air fryers and meat come in vastly different sizes.

    Instructions

    Note: You have to start preparing your pork roast 24 hours before cooking if you want to make crackling from the rind.

    Score the rind length ways. Rind can be quite hard to cut through, so you will have to carefully use a sharp knife. Make sure to only cut the rind, and not to cut through to the fat and meat underneath.

    Pat the rind dry with a paper towel, and salt generously. Make sure to rub salt into the cuts you just made. Then, leave the pork roast to rest uncovered in a refrigerator skin side up for around 24 hours. Make sure to have a look at it once or twice while it rests, and wipe off any liquid that appears. This will ensure that the rind dries out completely.

    Preheat your air fryer to 400 F / 200 C.

    Transfer the pork roast to the air fryer, rind side up, and air fry until the internal temperature of the pork is 145 F / 63 C. The exact roasting time will vary, but you can find suggested times in the table below.

    Remove the cooked pork roast from the air fryer, and leave it for about 15 minutes before you carve and serve.

    A pork roast in an air fryer.

    Helpful equipment

    Although you don't need much specialty equipment for the recipe, here's a few handy items I love and recommend:

    • Air fryer: Choose an air fryer that cooks evenly, and make sure that it's large enough to fit your entire joint.
    • Tongs: Tongs are really handy for removing the pork roast from the air fryer without having to flip it upside down. I use tongs a lot with my air fryer!
    • Meat thermometer: Using a thermometer is the easiest way to ensure juicy, perfectly cooked pork. You don't have to worry about under- or overcooking it, regardless of its size.

    Roasting times

    The exact roasting time will vary depending on the size of the meat that you use. Naturally, a smaller pork roast will cook faster than a larger one. Here's a simple table to help you calculate the expected cooking time, however I highly recommend using a meat thermometer for accuracy.

    Size of the roastRoasting time
    1 lb / 450 g30 minutes
    1.5 lbs / 700 g40 minutes
    2 lbs / 900 g50 minutes
    2.5 lbs / 1.2 kg1 hour 5 minutes
    For larger pork roasts, add another 10 minutes per 0.5 lbs / 200 g.
    A plate with sliced air fried pork roast.

    Crackling troubleshooting

    It's really easy to get perfect crackling with this recipe, but just in case you encounter any issues, here's a handy troubleshooting guide:

    Crackling doesn't get crispy

    This is the most common problem, and is caused by one of two things: too much moisture in the skin, or cooking at too low temperatures. If you cook your roast at the temperatures suggested, the skin probably has too much moisture in it.

    Make sure to only score the skin and not into the fat, salt it generously, and wipe off excess water multiple times while you're storing the joint uncovered in a refrigerator for at least 24 hours before cooking. All of these steps combined should dry out the skin sufficiently.

    Crackling gets too crispy or burned before the meat is cooked

    This could potentially happen if you have a very thick pork joint. Crackling is usually fine if it's a little overcooked, but if it's starting to burn, you can gently cut off the crackling, remove it from the air fryer, and leave the meat to finish cooking separately.

    Close up image of pork roast with crackling.

    The meat is cooked before the crackling is crispy

    If this happens, you can gently remove meat from the air fryer, and gently cut off the pork skin. Place the skin back into the air fryer separately. Cook it on high heat until it forms crackling, and serve it alongside the pork.

    I want to add a glaze or marinade to the joint and crackling

    Glazes, marinades or other liquids will prevent the crackling from forming. I therefore only recommend adding these to the meat after the crackling has formed, for example in the last 10-15 minutes of the cooking time. Alternatively, you can pour the glaze or sauce over the pork joint after it's cooked, to serve.

    Top tips

    Here's my best tips to make the best tender air fryer pork roast:

    • Use a meat thermometer! Your exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of the joint and the make and model of your air fryer.
    • If you don't intend on making crackling, or your pork joint has no skin, you can add seasoning or marinades as you please before cooking.
    Roasted pork in an air fryer.

    Serving suggestions

    From traditional favorites to alternative serving options, here are some of my favorite side dishes to enjoy with my air fryer pork roast.

    • Easy Pork Seasoning (Sugar Free) - My favorite pork rub, for those who want to add a little seasoning to their roast.
    • Mexican Potatoes - Perfect roast diced potatoes with the best flavor.
    • Carrot Rice - This colorful rice is an excellent easy side.
    • Sauteed Red Cabbage - Red cabbage is a classic British roast dinner side dish.
    • Healthy Mashed Potatoes - Creamy, delicious mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt.
    • Yogurt Dill Sauce - A chilled, refreshing yogurt sauce with herbs.
    Sliced pork roast on a plate surrounded by side dishes.

    Leftovers

    You can store leftover cooked pork roast for up to 4 days in a refrigerator in a sealed container.

    You can use the leftovers in a variety of other dishes, such as wraps, pork chop fajitas, sandwiches or casseroles, or serve it as an entree several days in a row.

    Whenever I cook a roast, I always choose one that's slightly too large to ensure that we have plenty of leftover meat for lunches through the week. It's a great way to prepare easy meals ahead.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you cook a frozen pork roast in an air fryer?

    Technically, yes. You can place the frozen pork roast in your air fryer. Keep in mind that the liquid will make it impossible to make crackling, but the meat will still cook nicely. The cooking time will vary largely, so I definitely recommend using a meat thermometer if you're cooking frozen meat.

    You might also like these recipes

    • Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Air Fryer Drumsticks
    • Air Fryer Steak
    • Perfect Pan Seared Pork Loin Steaks
    • Air Fryer Whole Chicken

    If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!

    Recipe

    Sliced pork with crackling.

    Air Fryer Pork Roast

    This delicious, tender air fryer pork roast recipe features the easiest crackling you'll ever make! Perfect for weeknight dinners, special occasions and even Christmas dinner.
    4.79 from 19 votes
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Resting Time 1 day d
    Total Time 1 day d 45 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 6
    Calories 483 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    • Tongs
    • Meat Thermometer
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pork loin joint
    • 2 teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Score the rind length ways. Rind can be quite hard to cut through, so you will have to carefully use a sharp knife. Make sure to only cut the rind, and not to cut through to the fat and meat underneath.
    • Pat the rind dry with a paper towel, and salt generously. Make sure to rub salt into the cuts you just made. Then, leave the pork roast to rest uncovered in a refrigerator skin side up for around 24 hours. Make sure to have a look at it once or twice while it rests, and wipe off any liquid that appears. This will ensure that the rind dries out completely.
    • Preheat your air fryer to 400 F / 200 C.
    • Transfer the pork roast to the air fryer, skin side up, and air fry until the internal temperature of the pork is 145 F / 63 C. The exact roasting time will vary, but you can find suggested times in the table below.
    • Remove the cooked pork roast from the air fryer, and leave it for about 15 minutes before you carve and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Use a meat thermometer! Your exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of the joint and the make and model of your air fryer.
    Roasting time suggestions:
    Size of the roast Roasting time
    1 lb / 450 g 30 minutes
    1.5 lbs / 700 g 40 minutes
    2 lbs / 900 g 50 minutes
    2.5 lbs / 1.2 kg 1 hour 5 minutes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 483kcalProtein: 82gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 230mgSodium: 954mgPotassium: 1368mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword air fryer, crackling, dairy free, easy, gluten free, joint, keto, loin, nut free, pork
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tom

      January 30, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      Came out perfect !

      Reply
    2. Tom

      February 06, 2021 at 11:12 pm

      5 stars
      I have never made a roast before, but I thought I would try it in my air fryer that my son and his husband gave me for Christmas. I followed the instructions, and it came out perfect. The crackling is crispy, and the meat is tender. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Davo

        September 23, 2021 at 9:09 am

        5 stars
        Didn't really follow step by step but adapted to my cut and seasoning, best advice is the meat thermometer. I cooked 200'C for 15min, checked it, then another 15min, and then did another 10mins and was getting close to 60'C, so did another 5min and it hit 62'C internal and pulled it out to rest in pre warmed oven for 15min...
        Perrrrfecto!

        Reply
    3. Grayson

      February 19, 2021 at 3:37 am

      5 stars
      Nice

      Reply
    4. Mel

      March 23, 2021 at 4:22 am

      5 stars
      Followed exact instructions. Turned out perfectly!

      Reply
    5. Merle

      May 12, 2021 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      It was perfect, first time cooking roast in AF, followed exactly, so yummy, the crackle was best I have ever cooked. Mine was 2kg but only needed about 1 and 1/2 hrs till is reached 63 degrees.
      Will be doing this one again ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

      Reply
    6. Sherry Rials

      June 09, 2021 at 9:19 pm

      I have a question please...
      Instead of wrapping it with foil could I just leave it in the air fryer with some foil on top?
      I cooked it too early so I may warm it up when it's time to eat.
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Tonje

        June 10, 2021 at 12:33 pm

        You can definitely leave it in the air fryer for a short while. Be careful with leaving meat out in room temperature for hours, as this increases the risk of food poisoning.

        Reply
    7. Sophia

      July 19, 2021 at 3:21 am

      Hi, I don’t have a meat thermometer. Do you know how long I need to cook a 1.7kg deboned leg of pork in the air fryer & what temperature. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Tonje

        January 07, 2022 at 10:34 am

        Hi Sophia! I would expect a roast of that size to take about 1 hour 30 minutes, at 400 F /200 C. Keep an eye on the roast for the last 30 minutes, and cover it with foil if it's starting to burn on top. To ensure that it's completely cooked through I also recommend that you pierce the meat with a skewer, and see that the juices run clear (not pink) before you remove it from the air fryer.

        Reply
    8. Syl Skelly

      November 27, 2021 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      Used Daewoo. air fryer coooked to perfection crackling best ever will definitely do again

      Reply
    9. Janelle

      December 12, 2022 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      Follow this recipe for cooking pork roast in my air fryer oven, it turn out better than the one in my of my air fryer cookbook.

      Reply
    10. Lou

      October 28, 2023 at 6:09 pm

      5 stars
      Was this on roast mode or air fry mode?

      Reply
      • Tonje

        November 14, 2023 at 9:35 am

        Hi Lou. I have made this on air fry mode, I am not familiar with a roast mode setting as my air fryer does not have one. Hope that helps!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

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